extreme makeover......

ok, so this is heartening news......from an email sent from upstate new york......an update on the condition of my spouse's eldest sister, who recently had an unsuccessful sugury to remove an all-too-extensive tumor that either spread from recurring breast cancer, or from uterine/ovarian cancer....either way.......she and my brother-in-law had just started a home rennovation project on their upstate ny/vermont border classic farmhouse when we visited last august.....a new garage attached to the house in back by a 2-story kitchen extension/mudroom/exercise room .....progress had been slow over the usual upstate ny winter.....and when the cancer reoccurance became a priority.....it was far from completed.....the structural parts were there, but the finishing stuff.....the tasks they thought could be done cheaper themselves.....those had languished.....and so it came to pass that dear friends dropped by the friday night of the 3-day holiday weekend......bearing both dinner, and news that they had arranged for a workcrew of friends/family (mostly from their church) to come for 3 solid days....and that my brother-in-law best be outlining the work to be done, and making sure that the materials were on hand......and so, with the feel of the barn-raising of old, the wallboard was hung, mudded, sanded, primed, painted....and the woodworking cut and hung....and cabinets placed, and appliances set, and by monday evening, the only things lacking involved the storage space above the garage......almost brings tears to your eyes...the kindness that people can bring to those who need a boost.....we hope to visit on our way home from taking the middle child to school...it is only 3-4 hours away from princeton......rather than 15 hours away from ky....it will be a long ride on monday (labor day)...but it had been done before.....but i digress......i often watch the extreme makeover show on abc....the one sponsored by sears.....it is always such a touching tale of kindness, albeit prompted by the desire for companies like sears to have their products showcased......but i can never watch the show without tears in my eyes......the family with the madeover home is always deserving....and while i know in my heart that grace is given to all....the deserving as well as the undeserving....none of us is truly deserving of grace because we have all sinned and will continue to do so......it is heartening to watch people who need a lift up get such a wonderfully upgraded place to live out their days......and while the televised version is grander than my sister-in-law's homemade one.....the one staged by friends certainly makes up for it as a heartfelt act of love